Brake Issue Help

[Hdfireman]

My 1995 LC with 175K on it just started having a brake issue. Brakes have always been great until about 2 days ago. The pedal has always been easy to push and it stooped very well. About 2 days ago I noticed that when I went to apply the brakes it was very hard to push the pedal and it didn't want to stop. I pushed it with much more force and it stopped. Next stop it was back to normal.

Over the next 2-3 days this started happening more often and now it is hard to push pretty much all the time. The truck stops fine once you apply enough pressure. When you first hit the pedal it is easy for a split second then you can feel it kind of push back and it is then hard to push. It is as if it has no power brakes. I thought it was the brake booster but in my experience they don't come and go like it did the first 2 days.

Anyone experience this or have ideas of what it could be? Thanks

 

[BILT4ME]

Brake booster is going out. Do a search here for replacement. Many have had good luck with aftermarket, but usually OEM is best.

 

[Izeloz]

X2 on brake booster. Not too terrible to change, so you could probably risk getting one aftermarket with a warranty.

 

[NLXTACY]

For giggles look at your check valve and vacuum line supplying it. Typically you start to hear the air/vacuum leaking right by the brake pedal when the booster starts to go. If its like a rock then the booster can't hold vacuum. Its fairly common for them to need replacement. Mine went out last year after over 300k.

 

[Rusco]

Exact same symptoms my booster caused when it failed. I cheaped out and bought aftermarket, shoulda' bought OEM, but $150 is a lot easier to cough up than $400 sometimes.

 

[Hdfireman]

Tested it per FSM and can hear the hiss when brake is applied. Looks like I'll order a booster.

 

[NLXTACY]

Tested it per FSM and can hear the hiss when brake is applied. Looks like I'll order a booster.

You have ABS? Some have been able to nudge the brake lines out of the way. I got so frustrated to the point where I said F'it and just removed the two lines coming from the ABS unit that was in my way. Lost barely any brake fluid and introduced very little air. Bled out the system, activated the ABS and rebled. Made installing the booster so much easier. YMMV.

 

[Hdfireman]

I do have ABS.

 

[Hdfireman]

How many have gotten a booster from Napa or O'Reilly and if so any troubles? It is hard to spend double for an OEM.

 

[CruiseOrlando]

I got mine from O'Reilly. It ended up being a Bosh unit. I'll take it over the OEM cost for new.

 

[SUMMIT CRUISERS]

Got one from OReillys for my son's 92. As I recall it ended up being a Cardone booster. Lasted about 2 weeks, then picked up another under warranty (ha!). Been working fine for about 6 months now. I'm sure it wont last the 360k the original OEM one did.